Sealing means



Feb. 15, 1966 M. J. JACKSON SEALING MEANS Filed March 2, 1964 n 6 6 H M a x m 7m /2 0 f0 i 3 m w w k n u u n 4/ 2 m M TL llll 1L INVENTOR. M10250 1 (mm Arne/V576 United States Patent 3,235,165 SEALING MEANS Mildred 3. Jackson, 549 W. Allen St., Springfield, Ell. Filed Mar. 2, 1964, Ser. No. 348,379 18 Claims. (Q1. 229-51) This invention relates to a sealing means and more particularly to a novel sealing means for a box containing dusting powder, bath powder, tissues or the like, allowing selective access to first a minor portion of the cavity therewithin and then to successively larger portions of the cavity as the quantity of powder or other articles remaining in the box decreases.

As conducive to a better understanding of the instant invention, it is to be understood that it is now conventional to seal a powder box with a solid piece of cellophane or firm parchment paper directly over the powder, the sealing material of necessity being torn or otherwise broken for access to thepowder. Such construction is difiicult to utilize in that the breaking of the seal causes powder to be thrown from the box all over the surrounding area and the user. Also, when the box is full of powder, the com- .plete removal of the seal provides an excessive amount of powder on a puff or the like utilized therewith. It would be advantageous if a sealing means were provided which could be removed without disturbing the powder within the box. Also, means to remove selective portions of the sealing means so that only a small opening is provided when the box is full, a larger opening being available as the quantity of powder within the box decreases, would be helpful.

Similar problems exist in opening tissue boxes now provided with perforated sealing means normally difficult to open and causing tearing of the box and disturbance of the tissues therewithin.

A primary object of this invention is the provision of a powder or tissue box or the like having a sealing means which overcomes the disadvantages of the constructions currently in use.

Another object of this invention is the provision of a box of the type described with a sealing means which can readily be removed without disturbing the contents of the box.

Yet another object of the instant invention is to provide such a box wherein selective portions of the sealing means may be removed to present openings of different sizes depending upon the quantity of material within the box.

A further object of the instant invention is the provi sion of a powder box having a sealing means which is secured in place by a contact adhesive or a pressure sensitive adhesive so that the sealing means can be stripped from over the powder without spilling any of the powder.

Other and further objects reside in the combination of elements, arrangement of parts, and features of construction.

Still other objects will in part be obvious and in part be pointed out as the description of the invention proceeds and as shown in the accompanying drawing wherein:

FIGURE 1 is a side elevational view of a powder box having a sealing means in accordance with the instant inventive concept, a portion of the box being broken away -to show the interior thereof;

FIGURE 2 is a top plan view of the sealing means of the instant inventive concept, portions of each sealing member being folded back to show an annular band of contact adhesive thereon, parts being broken away for illustrative clarity;

FIGURE 3 is a bottom plan view of the sealing means; FIGURE 4 is a top plan view to a reduced scale of one form of tissue box incorporating a sealing means in accordance with the instant invention;

3,235,165 Patented Feb. 15, 1966 FIGURE 5 is a top plan view of another embodiment of tissue box; and

FIGURE 6 is a top plan view of still another embodi ment of tissue box utilizing different size sealing means.

Similar reference characters refer to similar parts throughout the several views of the drawing.

Referring now to the drawing, and more particularly to FIGURES 1-3, a powder box in accordance with the instant inventive concept is designated generally by the reference numeral 10, and includes an outer shell 12 having a bottom 14, an upstanding peripheral side wall 16, and an open top 18, a cover 20 being provided with a downwardly extending peripheral flange 22 removably received over the top 18.

The sealing means of the instant invention is comprised of an annular flange 24 having an inwardly projecting portion 26 and a downwardly projecting portion 28, the latter being fixedly secured to the interior of the peripheral side wall 16 of the powder box it). The annular flange 24 defines a large opening 3t) which has removably secured thereto a plurality of progressively smaller sealing members each defining a progressively smaller opening and each being removably secured to the next larger one to cover the next larger opening, the largest of the sealing members being removably secured to the annular flange 24 to cover the large opening 3t), and the smallest of the sealing members being solid and being remov-. ably secured to the next larger sealing member to cover the smallest opening defined thereby. in the embodiment shown in the drawing there are only two such sealing members, the larger one 32 being removably secured to the annular flange 24- by an annular strip of contact adhesive or pressure sensitive adhesive 34 and defining therewithin an opening 36 smaller than the opening 30, and the smaller sealing member 38 being solid and being removably secured to the larger sealing member 32 by an annular strip of contact adhesive or pressure sensitive adhesive 4b to cover the smaller opening 36. It will be readily understood that a plurality of additional sealing members, progressively decreasing in size with progressively smaller openings as defined hereinabove may be readily incorporated into the construction shown in the drawing without departing from the instant inventive concept.

Each of the sealing members 32, 33 includes a tab 42, 44 extending outwardly from one point on its periphery, the tabs being free from adhesive so that they may be readily grasped to remove the selected sealing member.

The annular flange 24- is preferably carried by the side wall 16 spaced downwardly from the top 18 as seen in FIGURE 1 to define a cavity 46 therewithin for receiving a powder puff shown in dotted lines at 48, the annular flange 24 and the sealing member 32, 33 supporting the powder pufif 48 in use.

The manner of utilizing the powder box of the instant invention will now be apparent. The cover member 20 is removed on receiving a new box of powder as is the smallest sealing member 38 to provide access to the powder receiving cavity 5% defined within the box 1d. The sealing member 33 is removed by grasping the tab 44 and peeling the adhesive means off the next larger sealing member 32. Any adhesive remaining around the edge of the opening 36 will be quickly dusted by the powder within the box and will not continue to be sticky. Access to the powder is initially gained through the opening 36 and as the quantity of powder within the box it decreases, additional sealing members are selectively removed to provide a larger opening. Eventually, the largest sealing member 32 is removed by grasping the tab 42 to strip the same from the annular flange 24 thereby leaving the largest opening 30 available for access to the powder.

Referring now to FIGURE 4, a tissue box is designated generally by the reference numeral 50 and includes an elongated slot 52 for access to the interior thereof. Such construction is conventional when a single tissue is to be removed from the box 50 at a time. A sealing member 54 having a tab 56 is removably secured to the box d by an annular strip of contact adhesive or pressure sensitive adhesive (not shown) to permit stripping of the sealing member 54 for access to the tissues.

FIGURE 5 shows a similar box 53 having an oval opening 64) for access to the interior as is conventional when a plurality of tissues are to be removed from the box 53. A sealing member 62 having a tab 64 and a similar annular band of adhesive (not shown) covers the opening 60.

The embodiment of FIGURE 6 is directed to a tissue box 65 having an oval opening 68 with a pair of sealing members 7%, 72, having tabs 74, 75, respectively. The larger sealing member 765 has an elongated slot '76 and an annular band of adhesive (not shown) to secure the same in covering relationship to the opening The smaller sealing member '72 is solid and includes an lar band of adhesive (not shown) whereby it is removably secured to the larger sealing '79 in covering relationship to the slot 76. With this embodiment, the smaller sealing member 72 may be selectively removed to provide access to the tissues for single removal through the slot 76. Alternately, the larger sealing member '79 may be stripped from over the opening 68 for removal of a plurality of tissues.

It will now be seen that there is herein provided an improved powder box which satisfies all or" the objectives of the instant invention, and others, including many advantages of great practical utility and commercial importance.

Since many embodiments may be made of the instant inventive concept, and since many modifications may be made of the embodiments hereinbefore shown and described, it is to be understood that all matter herein is to be interpreted merely as illustrative, and not in a limiting sense.

I claim:

1-. In a box having portions defining an opening, a sealing means, an annular band of contact adhesive removably securing said sealing member to the box in closing relationship to the opening, said sealing means including a plurality of progressively smaller sealing members each defining a progressively smaller opening and each being removably secured to the next larger one to cover the next larger opening, the largest of said sealing members being removably secured to the box to cover the opening therein, and the smallest of said sealing members being solid and being removably secured to the next larger sealing member to cover the smallest opening therein.

2. The structure of claim 1 wherein the box is a powder box and the opening therein is defined by an annular flange carried by the side wall of the box adjacent the top thereof, said largest sealing member being removably secured to the annular flange.

3. The structure of claim 1 wherein said box is a tissue box and the opening therein is oval, said largest sealing member defining an elongated slot, and said smallest sealing member covering said slot.

4. A powder box comprising an outer shell having a bottom, an upstanding peripheral side wall and an open top, an annular flange carried by said side wall adjacent said top and defining a large opening therein, a plurality of progressively smaller sealing members each defining a progressively smaller opening and each being removably secured to the next larger one to cover the next larger opening, the largest of said sealing members being removably secured to said flange to cover said large opening therein, and the smallest of said sealing members being solid and being removably secured to the next larger sealing member to cover the smallest opening defined thereby,

5. The structure of claim 4 wherein each of said sealing members includes an annular band of contact adhesive for removably securing the same to each other and to the peripheral flange.

6. The structure of claim 5 wherein each sealing member includes a tab extending outwardly from one point on its periphery, said tabs being free from adhesive.

'7. The structure of claim 4 comprising only two sealing members, the larger one being removably secured to said flange to cover said large opening and defining a smaller opening, and the smaller one being solid and being removably secured to the larger one to cover s'aid smaller opening.

8. The structure of claim 4 further including, in combination, a cover member removably received over said open top.

9. The structure of claim 8 wherein said annular flange is carried by said side wall spaced downwardly from said top to define a powder puff receiving and supporting means.

it As an article of manufacture, a box having a horizontal top portion with means defining an opening therein, an imperforate bottom portion and an upstanding wall, sealing means including a plurality of different sized sealing members, the largest being of greater length and width than said top opening, a substantially equal width annular peripheral band of contact adhesive bonded to each member, removably securing the periphery of said largest sealing member to said opening in overlapping relationship with and in closing relationship to said opening and removably securing the margin of each remaining sealing means to the surface of another member immediately adjacent thereto.

ill. The structure of claim 16 wherein said sealing members are each provided with a top-accessible tab extending outwardly from one point of the periphery and beyond said adhesive band, and being free from adhesive on both its upper and lower face,

12. The structure of claim 11 wherein said sealing means includes a plurality of progressively smaller sea ing members each controlling a progressively smaller opening, and each sealing means being removably se cured in edge overlapping relationship to the next larger sealing member to cover the next larger opening, the largest of said sealing members being removably secured to the horizontal portion of the box top to cover the opening therein, and the smallest of said sealing members being solid and being removably secured in overlapping relationship to the next larger sealing member, to overlappingly cover the smallest opening therein.

13. The structure of claim 12 wherein the box is a powder box, and the largest opening therein is defined by the inner edge of an annular flange which latter includes a horizontal inwardly projecting portion, and a connecting vertical portion carried by the side wall of the box adjacent the top thereof but spaced downwardly from said top suflicient to define a powder puff receiving and supporting means, said largest sealing member being removably secured to the horizontal portion of said annular flange, and a cover member removably received over said open top and outside of said upstanding walls.

lid. The structure of claim 12, wherein said box is a tissue box and the largest opening therein is oval, said largest sealing member providing an elongated slot aligned parallel to the major axis of said oval, and said smallest sealing member overlappingly covering said slot.

15. As an article of manufacture, a powder box comprising an outer shell having a bottom, an upstanding peripheral side wall, and an open top, an annular flange with a horizontal projecting portion and a vertical portion, the latter portion being carried by said side wall adjacent said top, the inner edge of the horizontal portion defining a large opening, a plurality of progressively smaller sealing members each defining by its inner edge a progressively smaller opening, and each being removably secured to the next larger one in overlying peripheral relationship therewith by a peripheral band of pressure sensitive adhesive to cover the next larger opening, the largest of said sealing members being removably secured to the horizontal portion of said flange to cover said large opening, and the smallest of said sealing members being solid and being removably secured in overlying peripheral relationship to the next larger sealing member to completely cover the smallest opening.

16. The structure of claim 15 wherein each of said sealing members has a substantially uniform Width annular band of contact adhesive on one face only, for removably securing the same to each other and to the peripheral flange, the area on each side of each said sealing member, with the exception of said band, being free of adhesive.

17. The structure of claim 16 wherein each sealing member includes a tab extending outwardly from one point on its periphery beyond said annular band, said tabs being bendable out of the plane of an underlying sealing member and the peripheral flange.

18. The structure of claim 16 further including the combination of a flanged cover member removably received outside said peripheral side wall and over said open top, and wherein said side wall flange is carried at a vertical zone spaced downwardly away from the top of said side wall sufliciently to receive and support a powder puff below the cover and above the flange, and the cover flange is of such height that it vertically overlaps a part of said side Wall flange.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,58 8,733 6/ 1926 Hoberg 221-48 1,640,368 8/1927 Obetz et a1. 20659 1,652,755 12/ 1927 Brodrick 206-1 1,885,757 11/1932 Orlopp 206-47 2,579,490 12/ 1951 Gordon 22951 2,776,787 1/1957 Nicol 229-43 2,925,188 2/1960 Grumbles 215- 3,012,692 12/1961 Petersen 221--63 3,049,224 8/1962 Fredette et al 20642 FOREIGN PATENTS Ad. 13,103 11/1910 France.

550,281 1/ 1943 Great Britain. 5 67,738 2/ 1945 Great Britain.

THERON E. CONDON, Primary Examiner. 

15. AS AN ARTICLE OF MANUFACTURE, A POWDER BOX COMPRISING AN OUTER SHELL HAVING A BOTTOM, UN UPSTANDING PERIPHERAL SIDE WALL, AND AN OPEN TOP, AN ANNULAR FLANGE WITH A HORIZONTAL PROJECTING PORTION AND A VERTICAL PORTION, THE LATTER PORTION BEING CARRIED BY SAID SIDE WALL ADJACENT SAID TOP, THE INNER EDGE OF THE HORIZONTAL PORTION DEFINING A LARGE OPENING, A PLURALITY OF PROGRESSIVELY SMALLER SEALING MEMBERS EACH DEFINING BY ITS INNER EDGE A PROGRESSIVELY SMALLER OPENING, AND EACH BEING REMOVABLY SECURED TO THE NEXT LARGER ONE IN OVERLYING PERIPHERAL RELATIONSHIP THEREWITH BY A PERIPHERAL BAND OF PRESSURE SENSITIVE ADHESIVE TO COVER THE NEXT LARGER OPENING, THE LARGEST OF SAID SEALING MEMBERS BEING REMOVABLY SECURED TO THE HORIZONTAL PORTION OF SAID FLANGE TO COVER SAID LARGE OPENING, AND THE SMALLEST OF SAID SEALING MEMBERS BEING SOLID AND BEING REMOVALBY SECURED IN OVERLYING PERIPHERY RELATIONSHIP TO THE NEXT LARGER SEALING MEMBER TO COMPLETELY COVER THE SMALLEST OPENING. 